13 Astounding Sculptures That Look They’re Sinking Into the Ground

 

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There are many artworks that will make you do a double-take, but few create the type of astounding illusion that sinking sculptures do. Artists and designers make homes, cars, and even people look as though they are quickly slipping in quicksand or going underwater. This visual element produces both a striking sight and is conceptually alluring. We can’t help but wonder: what draws them under the surface? Will they ever escape?

Artist Isaac Cordal is one artist who has crafted this sculptural illusion to great effect. His 2011 piece, popularly known as Politicians Discussing Global Warming, features a group of miniature figurines in a puddle of water on the streets of Berlin. Some are waist-deep in the liquid while others are nearly submerged in it. The minute display is powerful for the emotion that it conveys, as well as its commentary on public officials and their inability to enact meaningful legislation to fight climate change.

Scroll down to see how other artists have used the sinking sculpture illusion in their work.

“Sinking” sculpture optical illusions are both visually striking and conceptually alluring. See how these artists have interpreted similar ideas.

 

Pete and Sue Hill

 

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Julien Berthier

 

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Cornelia Konrads

 

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Ivan Puig

 

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Ivan Puig

 

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Petrus Spronk

 

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Heather Hart

 

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Heather Hart

 

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Cathie Pilkington

 

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Pedro Marzorati

 

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Asmund Havsteen-Mikkelsen

 

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David Brooks

 

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BYME

 

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Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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